Rescue cat is terrified

[Squaretoe]

We picked up our new little girl yesterday! She is from a Romanian shelter and apparently she was in a van for over three days before she got here so she is not a happy girl at the moment! She has been here for just under 24 hours and has been hiding behind various bits of furniture basically the whole time. She has eaten next to nothing, and has used the litter tray once. I don’t know if she’s had anything to drink since she’s been here.

Feliway is arriving later on today, and I’ve been playing relaxing music for cats to try to calm her down . What else can I do? The lady at the shelter has been in touch to check on her and has been helpful. I’m freaking out a bit that she’s traumatised and will hide forever.

[Fluffycloudland77]

Well she looks very content in the one photo. She’s not going to stay under things forever.

I bet she explores at night.

[Squaretoe]

@StrawberryFizz26 that gives me hope thank you!

@Fluffycloudland77 judging by the state of downstairs in the morning I think you’re right! The ball of string is usually completely unravelled. We’ve had to hide the toys with bells in as we could hear her going nuts in the middle of the night!

[Squaretoe]

Just thought I’d update. She still runs whenever we go near her, even if we ignore her completely, but she then comes back to where she was sitting. Baby steps! We let her out the other day and she wandered round the garden for about half an hour before disappearing completely. We managed to get her back in for house the following evening, then kept her in for 24 hours. The following evening she was crying at the back door so we let her out again. She disappeared again for a whole day and has come back again this evening. It’s terrifying when she disappears completely but the fact that she’s coming back voluntarily is a good thing surely. Sadly my dream of having a lap cat may just be a dream! But she seems happy, and she knows she gets fed here!

[Fluffycloudland77]

If you can only let her out in the morning after a small breakfast.

Nighttime is really dangerous for getting run over.

[SmackTheMackrel]

Let her out on an empty stomach in the morning - I wouldn't feed at all and if you have to, just some boring biscuits. This should ensure she comes back

[Fluffycloudland77]

How is she?.

[Squaretoe]

@Fluffycloudland77 so as several people predicted, she has massively turned a corner and now is much more settled! She will accept strokes from everyone and is getting more comfortable around the noisy children. And most importantly, she seems soooo much happier, she is currently sat with me in the garden (not wanting lap cuddles yet but there’s still time!)

[Squaretoe]

Hi!

[Fluffycloudland77]

That’s lovely.

[bravotango]

Yay! Lovely update. We have a rescue who took about 2 months to settle in and stop hiding - as PPs say, it can just take a while! Looks like she's on her way

[EachandEveryone]

She is gorgeous. Can you get a cat flap so you can lock it overnight?